Couples Yoga: A Way to Strengthen Your Relationship

Encourage your partner to do couples yoga, as it’s a wonderful experience that can strengthen your relationship.
Couples Yoga: A Way to Strengthen Your Relationship

Last update: 12 May, 2022

Doing couples yoga is a different and fun way to take advantage of all the benefits of yoga for the body and mind, while helping to strengthen and improve your relationship by sharing an extraordinary experience together. Couples yoga poses require teamwork and mutual trust. The results depend on the support you receive from your partner, and vice versa.

Couples yoga poses

1. Seated centering and grounding

Seated centering and grounding.
Synchronizing your breathing allows for greater connection.

Many yoga sessions start with this practice, which you can do with your partner. Sit back to back with your legs simply crossed (Sukhasana) or intertwined with your feet on your thighs in the lotus pose. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing.

You can try to synchronize your inhalations and exhalations with your partner to start the poses with a better connection.

2. Revolved chair (Parivrtta Utkatasana)

Parivrtta Utkatasana pose.
In the Parivritta Sukhasana pose, your torso is turned to one side.

In the same position as the first pose, turn your torso to the left until you reach your partner’s right knee with your left hand. Your right hand should rest on their left knee. Hold the pose for several breaths and then repeat on the other side.

Discover: Practicing Yoga with Your Significant Other

3. Forward and backward stretch

Forward and backward stretch.
One partner’s waist stretches the back of the other.

Still in the same position, back to back with your legs crossed, stretch your arms up and hold hands. Lean forward at the waist, pulling your partner’s back. Do it gently so you don’t hurt your partner’s back.

4. Child’s pose

Child's pose.
This pose allows both of you to further stretch your back.

Sit on your knees with your buttocks resting on your heels. Then, lean your waist forward with your arms outstretched until your chest is on your knees. Subsequently, lie on your back against the back of the person in the child’s pose. This pose allows both of you to further stretch your back.

5. Leg and waist stretch

Leg and waist stretch.
Similar to the child’s pose but with your legs stretched out.

This position is similar to the child’s pose but you keep your legs stretched out. Lean your waist forward until you reach your toes with your hands. The couple lies back to back.

6. Boat pose (Navasana)

A couple doing the boat pose (Navasana).
You can do the boat pose with your legs outside or inside your arms.

Sit facing each other with your legs stretched out, bringing the soles of your feet together. Then, hold hands and begin to elevate your legs together. You can keep them outside your arms or between them.

7. Upward extended pose (Urdhva Uttanasana)

Urdhva Uttanasana.
Urdhva Uttanasana helps to stretch your back.

Standing back to back, hold hands and lean your entire body forward. Then, twist your back backward as if you were going to put your heads together. This exercise can also be performed by standing face to face, holding on to your arms, and twisting your back backwards.

8. Chair pose (Utkatasana)

Couple doing Utkatasana.
You can extend the sitting pose to Utkatasana.

Stand face to face and hold hands. Little by little, bend your knees until you’re in a sitting position, pulling your partner. You can extend this pose to the Parivritta Utkatasana pose by holding one hand (left to right) and stretching your free hand towards the back, turning your torso.

9. Standing forward bend (Uttanasana)

Uttanasana pose.
The Uttanasana pose helps to stretch and open your shoulders.

Stand facing each other with your arms outstretched, holding each other by the shoulders. Take small steps backward, keeping your legs and back straight so that your waist tilts until your backs are aligned with the floor. Your arms must maintain pressure on your partner’s shoulders to stretch them.

With these simple couples yoga poses, you can start to do a yoga routine that you’ll enjoy together. We’re sure you’ll notice how these exercises give your relationship a new dimension!


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Shannahoff-Khalsa, D. (2007). Kundalini Yoga Meditation: Techniques Specific for Psychiatric Disorders, Couples Therapy, and Personal Growth. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2007.0684
  • Darbandi, S., Darbandi, M., Khorshid, H. R. K., & Sadeghi, M. R. (2018). Yoga can improve assisted reproduction technology outcomes in couples with infertility. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine.
  • Mousavi, N., B., B., & A., A. (2017). Effect of therapeutic yoga in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms and improving quality of life in infertile women waiting for IVF. International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine.

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.